Meet Ethan Duran, the Creative Director for Palette Magazine

As we get ready to celebrate our achievements at Pride events across the land, I'm reminded of just how much a sense of community really means to me.

Throughout my life, I've had the opportunity to live in various places, in the States and abroad. I was lucky enough to spend well over 10 years in San Francisco. Whether it was strolling the Castro or grabbing drinks in the Mission, I always felt I belonged. It also helped that I worked at a lesbian lifestyle magazine and got to among my peers on a daily basis.

It wasn't until I relocated to South Florida in 2012 that I realized just how much I missed that sense a palce. I spent quite some time searching for the "Castro" in South Florida. What I learned was just how spread out the community here could feel.

Then I moved to Wilton Manors. Walking Wilton Drive with all its rainbow flags and seeing people out and about took me back to my days on the West Coast. But while checking out local shops and hanging out at coffee houses, I realized most of the publications available didn't resonate. i couldn't find a magazine that spoke to those of us who are building careers, closing on houses, investing in retirement, launching new businesses or settling down to start a fmaily. And that's how Palette was born.

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With Palette we want to cover and discover a range of topics - dining, national news, local profiles, health and business. I hope the thoughtfully presented and engaging content will speak to South Florida's LGBTQI community and help bring us closer together, from the Palm Beaches down through Broward, Miami-Dade and Florida Keys.

My hope with this first issue is that you find something that speaks to you, and, like myself, discover new things about this ever-evolving place we call home. I look forward to hearing from you, and I sincerely hope we grow into our own community of readers, explorers, diners, supporters, collectors, redecorators, fashionistas and organizers.

Feel free to drop me a line. Send your thoughts or story suggestions to ethan@miamiherald.com, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Whether you have lived here your whole life or are new to the area, let's embark on this journey together and find out everything South Florida has to offer.